3-Point Hitch Hydraulic top link

[PCABE5]

Calling all hydraulic gurus
Found this kit
John Deere LoaderMower Mechanical Diverter Valve Kit - LVB25823

Thinking I can plumb a hydraulic top link to it and call it a day. Dont have a hydraulic mid mower mount to worry about.
Alternatively if I dont connect the mechanical diverter can I simply plug the hydraulics to the adapters/splitters that @mtnViewRanch posted in #27 I can then have a complete set of always on hydraulics that I can hook up other implements to also? Its like a power beyond kit..right?
Am I over simplifying it ?

Side note I need to stop looking at all your setups, makes me spend too much money..LOL

Not an economical idea and you cannot hook up the electric valves in post 27 to that diverter and easily use it off the back..

You have a power beyond off your loader valve and you can hook up manual or electronic valves off of that. Better solution for the same price or less.

 

[Chev1966]

Figured I chime in on this post. I have an mt125, TLB. Can I use the fittings on the rear that the bh hooks up to for a hydraulic top link? Or would I have to go with the auxiliary ports to make it work?

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Figured I chime in on this post. I have an mt125, TLB. Can I use the fittings on the rear that the bh hooks up to for a hydraulic top link? Or would I have to go with the auxiliary ports to make it work?

Yes you can, but it is a bit complicated.... you have to add spool valves, plumb it in before the three point, and still have the return to tank bypass hose hooked in. I am assuming you have the "three hose setup" for your BH.

There is a thread in the Massey Ferguson forum in which a guy set up remotes on his 1720 (similar setup as the 125). He even posted the full parts list for it. I'll see if I can find it and post a link to it...

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Found it!

3-Point Hitch - Almost complete: 2 spool 3rd Function top-n-tilt for GC1710

Prince valve, surplus center top link. Still looking for a tilt ram. The two spool for now will drive my back blade swing and toplink. Need to do some hose management, finish out the mount to the ROPS, and order a few more fittings. The mount to the ROPS will be quickly removable for backhoe...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Here is a recently posted thread with adding rear remotes on a Kubota.... has a similar hose setup as your 125...

Rear Remotes Installed on Kubota BX25D - Video

Hi all, Well, I pulled the trigger and did the install ... not so bad. Check it out. - James

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[Chev1966]

Yes you can, but it is a bit complicated.... you have to add spool valves, plumb it in before the three point, and still have the return to tank bypass hose hooked in. I am assuming you have the "three hose setup" for your BH.

There is a thread in the Massey Ferguson forum in which a guy set up remotes on his 1720 (similar setup as the 125). He even posted the full parts list for it. I'll see if I can find it and post a link to it...

Thx for the info. I’ll have to check it out later!

 

[Walter L]

The top link on my two tractors is used in many of my hookups like my planter ,disk,tiller, turning plows , subsoiler , grader blade, exc. I depend on my top link so i dont have to get of and on my tractor at my age its a real work saver.

 

[swreeder]

Anyone have any experience with these top link kits? I have three remotes on the back of my tractor and for the price of 229 for everything, I might take a chance and try one.

Cat 2 Top Link kit

 

[JCoastie]

@swreeder I would want a longer stroke than that specific link kit offers.
And do you really have a cat2 tractor? Based on the stock LS info, should generally be cat1 MT352H/HC/C - 52HP - LS Tractor USA

For CAT1, last night I ordered this for my MT240

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/ama-usa-category-1-hydraulic-top-link:-20-7-8-31-7-8in?cm_vc=-10005

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/ama-usa-hydraulic-hose-kit-with-valve-type-couple?cm_vc=IOPDP1

I went with a slightly longer than stock top link because I use the Pats Easy Change system which adds about 4 inches to the length of the lift arms.

for a closer to stock closed length, they offer this, which should still give you a slightly longer stroke https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...raulic-top-link:-18-1-8-26-3-8in?cm_vc=-10005

 

[swreeder]

Definitely cat2 on my tractor. All my implements are cat1 and I've been using the bushings to hook things up. Cat2 along with the three remotes were a standard selling feature of the MT352 over the comparable XR when I purchased it.

Thanks for the TS links.

PDF Link has the proper specs for the MT353HC here: https://lstractorusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/LS-Tractor-Brochure_MT3.pdf

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

That's a great price! I paid that for just my Cat 1 cylinder... plus another $55 for the hoses.

 

[PCABE5]

Definitely cat2 on my tractor. All my implements are cat1 and I've been using the bushings to hook things up. Cat2 along with the three remotes were a standard selling feature of the MT352 over the comparable XR when I purchased it.

Thanks for the TS links.

PDF Link has the proper specs for the MT353HC here: https://lstractorusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/LS-Tractor-Brochure_MT3.pdf

Never seen a dealer order cat 2 on anything smaller than the top model. It wasn't a selling point for me because it is not a true cat 2 hitch. I ended up ordering the cat 1 extendable links and made it a true cat 1 again.

 

[PCABE5]

For CAT1, last night I ordered this for my MT240

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/ama-usa-category-1-hydraulic-top-link:-20-7-8-31-7-8in?cm_vc=-10005

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/ama-usa-hydraulic-hose-kit-with-valve-type-couple?cm_vc=IOPDP1

I went with a slightly longer than stock top link because I use the Pats Easy Change system which adds about 4 inches to the length of the lift arms.

I'll be curious if that ends up working out for you. I'm thinking it might be too long and you won't be able to tilt the implement up.

Saying that it's longer than stock, how did you measure the length you needed?

 

[JCoastie]

Saying that it's longer than stock, how did you measure the length you needed?

I measured the stock toplink.

it's 2 inches longer than my stock toplink, and I added 4 inches of distance with the Pats easy change, so in effect, based off the stock setup, I really gain 2 inches up and a whole lot down.

 

[PCABE5]

Gotcha. That's not the typical way to measure the length of top link that you would need. Hope it works out for you.

 

[Macinnis]

Never seen a dealer order cat 2 on anything smaller than the top model. It wasn't a selling point for me because it is not a true cat 2 hitch. I ended up ordering the cat 1 extendable links and made it a true cat 1 again.

What do you mean it’s not a true cat 2? This is my first tractor...so I am pretty green...but the mt3 57 clearly states cat 2...what do you mean that it’s not a true cat 2 hitch?

 

[PCABE5]

What do you mean it’s not a true cat 2? This is my first tractor...so I am pretty green...but the mt3 57 clearly states cat 2...what do you mean that it’s not a true cat 2 hitch?

Yeah I know they state Cat 2 in the brochure but Cat 1 and 2 have different spacing between the lower arms and between the lower arms and top link. These arms are Cat 1 spaced. Lastly the the tractor is Cat 1 on the tractor side and uses Cat 2 end link balls on the implement side making it a mixed mess.

 

[swreeder]

Yeah I know they state Cat 2 in the brochure but Cat 1 and 2 have different spacing between the lower arms and between the lower arms and top link. These arms are Cat 1 spaced. Lastly the the tractor is Cat 1 on the tractor side and uses Cat 2 end link balls on the implement side making it a mixed mess.

I'm no expert, but my dealer did show me the cat 1 on the XR was 24" between lift arms and on the MT3 I bought it was 32". He didn't measure or show me the distance to the top link from the bottom link, so don't what that distance is. I can state clearly though that there was a big difference in the components size from the Cat1 to Cat2 on the different tractors. Whether or not it is a "true" Cat2

 

[PCABE5]

I'd have to compare to see what you are seeing. What is the pin size of your top link on the tractor side?

 

[swreeder]

Learned something new today, I have a "Franken-Hitch". Top link is a Cat1 on both ends. Lift arms have Cat 2 sized components and balls on the implement side, but cat 1 sized pins on the tractor side.